A10933:1232
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…
A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more clearly understand and make use of the worthy examples of the saints, recorded in divine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie lectures; since collected, and diligently perused, and now published. For the benefit generally of all such as desire to grow in faith and repentance, and especially of them, who would more cleerely vnderstand and make vse of the worthie examples of the saints, recorded in diuine history. Penned by Richard Rogers preacher of Gods word at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1615
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 57 › Chapter 9 › Part 2: The second part of the Chapter.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Herein first let us see the meaning of some things in this scripture, which 1are hard to be understood, before we proceed further. In parables, we know there must be no precise agreement with truth looked for in every circumstance, nor sense wrung out of every word, but the scope and substance must be looked to and regarded. By the olive therefore, vine, and figtree, briefly, he meaneth such of Gideons family, as might have been profitably employed. By the Trees seeking a king, he meaneth the Shechemites. By the bramble Abimelech, good for nothing. And as the bramble, which is one of the worst shrubs in the field, ought not to be taken above any of the best trees, for any principal use, but is most fit to be burned: So neither ought Abimelech to have been preferred before Gideons sons, who yet would not reign. Therefore both Abimelech, and they who chose him, should be, as they had deserved, even worthily cut off. In this scripture are two things: the one a preface, desiring to hearken to him: with a reason, lest 2God hearken not to them: the other, to what they should hearken, to wit, to the laying out of their sin, to verse 16. and to the punishment denounced against it, to vers. 22.
Herein first let vs see the meaning of some things in this scripture, which 1are hard to be vnderstood, before we proceed further. In parables, we know there must be no precise agreement with truth looked for in euery circumstance, nor sense wrung out of euery word, but the scope and substance must bee looked to and regarded. By the oliue therefore, vine, and figtree, briefly, hee meaneth such of Gedeons familie, as might haue been profitably employed. By the Trees seeking a king, hee meaneth the Shechemites. By the bramble Abimelech, good for nothing. And as the bramble, which is one of the worst shrubs in the field, ought not to be taken aboue any of the best trees, for any principall vse, but is most fit to bee burned: So neither ought Abimelech to haue been preferred before Gedeons sonnes, who yet would not raigne. Therefore both Abimelech, and they who chose him, should be, as they had deserued, euen worthily cut off. In this scripture are two things: the one a preface, desiring to hearken to him: with a reason, lest 2